Plan 4-Ward for Success

Plan for Success. There are many ways graduate students can plan for a successful and fruitful career. One is through the development of an Individual Development Plan (IDP). Click here to access WMU’s Plan It 4-Ward IDP tool Following are many resources that can help you succeed in four critically important aspects of your graduate school experience.

Graduate student life will probably feel different than undergraduate life. Graduate education is more focused on a specific discipline and often provides a more intense academic experience, requiring you to construct knowledge, be self-directed, and actively participate. In addition, faculty will expect you to seek out your own resources and generally assume that you have the needed background knowledge to succeed. You will be expected to be more independent and b. Adapting to the larger amount of reading, new ways of thinking, and added pressures of research and writing can be overwhelming to students at times. You are not alone—faculty, staff, and peers are available for support, but you do need to seek it out and ask.

Below are some suggestions and links to resources available at WMU and beyond.

Complete the WMU online orientation for new graduate students

Become familiar with your academic department and college staff and resources

Develop a strong relationship with your faculty advisor and set up regular appointments.